Package integrity indicating closure

ABSTRACT

A resealable closure for a container in which package integrity is indicated by a structure which connects the closure to a remaining portion of the container which must be broken in order to gain access to the contents of the container for a first time. The package integrity feature, in one form, includes a structure associated with the closure, wherein upon opening the closure for a first time, the structure stretches, increasing a length of the structure until the structure eventually breaks, leaving one or both residual ends of the broken structure rippled or curved upward from the remainder of the container. In one alternative form, the structure is associated with a pull tab of the sealing panel, which comprises the closure, whereby either the structure must be broken first, prior to pulling back the sealing panel, or while pulling back the sealing panel for a first time, the structure breaks, prior to gaining access to the contents therein. Advantageously, the package integrity feature is integrally formed with the closure and a remaining portion of the container. Integrity of the package is indicated by visually observing an intact breakable structure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a resealable closure for packagesstoring articles and, more particularly, packages with resealableclosures having a package integrity indicator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Some containers for food products, such as cookies and other snacks,typically include an outer wrapper. In one type of container, thewrapper surrounds a frame which acts as a tray to hold the food productand to protect the food product from damage. Other food products comepackaged in plastic trays, such as thermoform trays, which are sealed onthe top using some type of lidding material. One recent advancement inthe art of food container closures includes a resealable closuredisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,918,532 (hereinafter “the '532 patent”),herein incorporated by reference, which discloses a wrapper which formsa top of the container, which top has an access opening covered by aresealable sealing panel.

In the packaging art, different structures have been used to indicatewhether a package has been previously opened or whether the integrity ofthe package has been compromised, which structures are often referred toin the art as “tamper-evident” or “package integrity.” For example, onerecent package integrity indicating closure is disclosed in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/500,497 (hereinafter “the '497 application”),herein incorporated by reference, shows a closure comprising a two-plymaterial having an inner film layer and an outer film layer forming atop of a container. The outer film layer has a sealing panel covering aportion of the inner film layer which, with the sealing panel, forms anopening. The package integrity feature comprises a panel of the innerfilm layer which separates from the sealing panel to indicate that theclosure has been previously opened.

One recent advancement in the art of food containers having a packageintegrity feature is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/693,751 (hereinafter “the '751 application”), herein incorporated byreference. The '751 application discloses a resealable closure having apackage integrity indicator provided by a structure which breaks and/orproduces an audible sound when the resealable closure is opened for afirst time. The package integrity feature includes at least one stripinitially affixed to two portions which comprise the resealable closureso that upon opening the resealable closure for a first time, at leastone of the strips breaks, thereby indicating that the package haspreviously been opened. Package integrity is also provided by a movablepanel or removable die-cut tab portions which are misaligned uponresealing of the closure, thus indicating that the package haspreviously been opened.

In the packaging art of non-food items, different methods have been usedto indicate whether a package has previously been opened or whether theintegrity of the package has been compromised, including the methodsdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,589,622; 6,767,604; and 4,679,693. U.S.Pat. No. 6,589,622 discloses a tamper-evident feature in the form of alabel flap having a series of perforations which form a tamperindicating tab, such that when the label flap is initially removed fromthe package, the tamper indicating tab separates from the label flapalong the perforations to indicate that the package has been opened.Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,767,604, package integrity is indicated bya label with pull tab having a pull tab perforation or other weakenedportion which divides the tab into a pull portion and an end portion.U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,693 discloses a main pull tab adhesively sealed to atop surface of a package with an auxiliary pull tab which is completelyremoved from the main tab prior to opening the container.

There is a need in the art for a resealable container, preferablysuitable for containing food items, which includes a new and improvedpackage integrity indicator.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a resealable closure for acontainer in which package integrity is indicated by a structure whichhas to be broken prior to gaining access to the contents in thecontainer. Accordingly, an intact structure indicates package integrity,thereby providing an indication that the package has not previously beenopened.

The present package integrity feature can be used by itself to indicatepackage integrity or it can complement the package integrity featuresdisclosed in the '751 application. When used with the package integrityfeatures of the '751 application, the present new package integrityfeature further ensures that the closure cannot be even initiallypartially opened for a first time without the present integrity featurehaving first been broken, and thus visible by observing the exterior ofthe container.

The present invention, in one form, relates to a package integrityfeature comprising a closure, covering an opening into a container, andat least one structure associated with the closure, connecting theclosure to a remaining portion of the container. Upon opening theclosure for a first time, the structure stretches, increasing a lengthof the structure until the structure eventually breaks, leaving one orboth residual ends of the broken structure rippled or curved upward fromthe remaining portion of the container. In various alternative furtherembodiments, the structure may comprise a strip extending from a tabportion of the closure to the remaining portion of the container. In yeta further alternative embodiment, there may be at least two structuresassociated with the closure, one on either side of a tab portion of theclosure.

Advantageously, the structure is integrally formed with the closure andthe remaining portion of the container, and the closure is in the formof a sealing panel, wherein the sealing panel is releasable from theremaining portion of the container by pulling back in a peelingdirection, thereby stretching the structure associated with the sealingpanel and eventually breaking the structure to gain access to thecontents inside. The sealing panel is reclosable against the remainingportion of the container to seal the opening when the sealing panel ismoved back against the remaining portion of the container.

The present invention, in another form thereof, relates to a packageintegrity feature comprising at least one structure associated with thesealing panel of a resealable closure of a container. The structure isintegrally formed with the sealing panel on one end and a remainder ofthe container on the other end. The structure is constructed to breakits connection between the sealing panel and the remainder of thecontainer when the sealing panel is pulled back from the remainder ofthe container for a first time, thereby leaving the sealing panel freeof its attachment to the container through the structure.

In various further alternative forms, the breakable structure comprisesa curved strip, such as a strip in the shape of an arc or a wavy shapehaving a concave segment and a convex segment, a structure having one ormore narrowing segments followed with one or more broader or widersegments, whereby the structure stretches along the narrow portion andeventually breaks.

The present invention, in another form thereof, relates to an integrityindicating closure for a container, the closure comprising an at leasttwo-ply material comprising an inner layer adhesively joined to an outerlayer and forming a top of the container. The inner layer has an innerlayer panel and the outer layer has a sealing panel. The sealing panelcompletely covers the inner layer panel. At least one strip isintegrally formed from the material which comprises the outer layer andconnects the sealing panel to a remaining portion of the outer layer.The inner layer panel and the sealing panel are permanently joined toeach other to provide an access opening into the container. Releasableadhesive is provided around a perimeter of the sealing panel foradhering the sealing panel to the inner panel. The sealing panel isreleasable from the inner layer by pulling back the sealing panel in apeeling direction and resealable against the top to seal the openingwhen the sealing panel is moved back against the top.

Advantageously, after the structure breaks, one or both residual ends ofthe broken structure are rippled or curved upward from the top of thecontainer.

The present invention, in one form, relates to a package integrityfeature comprising a structure associated with an end portion of aresealable closure of a container. The structure is breakably attachedto the end portion on one end of the structure and permanently attachedto a remainder of the container at a second end of the structure,wherein the breakable structure is constructed such that it can begrasped from below with one's fingers and broken to thereby break itsconnection between the tab portion and the remainder of the container,thereby leaving the end portion free of its attachment to the containerthrough the structure.

In various further specific forms, the structure comprises a stripextending between a tab portion of the closure, which comprises the endportion of the closure, and an adjacent portion of the container, andthe strip includes a weakened portion. Further, advantageously, thestructure is preferably raised from a top surface of the container whichallows one to easily grasp the breakable structure from below with one'sfingers.

The present invention, in yet another form thereof, relates to a packageintegrity indicating feature comprising a film layer forming a top ofthe container and having a flap defining an access opening to gainaccess to the contents of the container. A sealing panel completelycovers the flap of the film layer. The sealing layer comprises a pulltab with a strip which is permanently affixed to the top. The pull taband the strip define a gap between the top of the container and the pulltab and strip. A releasable adhesive is provided on either or both thesealing panel or the film layer adhering the sealing panel to the filmlayer. The sealing panel is releasable from the film layer, after thestrip joining the sealing panel to a portion of the top has been broken,by pulling the sealing panel back in a peeling direction and isreclosable against the top to seal the access opening when the sealingpanel is moved back against the top.

The present invention, in another form thereof, concerns a packageintegrity indicating feature comprising a structure associated with anend portion of a resealable closure of a container. Both the end portionand the structure are non-adhered to an adjacent top surface of thecontainer. The structure is breakably attached to the end portion andpermanently attached to a remainder of the container, wherein thestructure must be separated between the end portion of the resealableclosure and the remainder of the container in order to open theresealable closure.

The present invention, in another form thereof, relates to a packageintegrity indicating feature comprising an at least two-ply materialcomprising a first film layer adhesively joined to a second film layer.A first tear line is formed in the first film layer defining a firstlayer panel for providing an access opening through the first film layerwhen separated from the first film layer along the first tear line. Thesecond film layer has a second layer tear line defining a sealing panelhaving one end terminating at a breakable structure. The sealing panelcompletely covers the first layer panel. The second film layer includesa releasable adhesive layer for releasably adhering the sealing panel tothe first film layer, wherein the second film layer can be pulled backand separated from the first film layer to expose the access opening andgain access to the contents therein only after the breakable structureis broken. Food items disposed in the container may include, but are notlimited to, cookies, crackers, peanuts, cheese, sliced meats andsemi-solid foods.

Other features and advantages of the present invention are stated in orapparent from detailed descriptions of the presently preferredembodiments of the invention which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package, including an exemplaryclosure prior to an initial opening, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the package of FIG. 1 in a partially opened condition;

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the closure of FIG. 1, as viewed frombelow, in its initial condition prior to being opened for a first time;

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the closure of FIG. 1, after an initialopening and resealing;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another package, in accordance with thepresent invention, including a closure that has been opened;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another package, in accordance with thepresent invention, with the package integrity feature, shown in apartially opened condition;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another package, in accordance with thepresent invention, including a closure that has not been opened;

FIG. 8 shows the package of FIG. 7, shown in a partially openedcondition;

FIG. 9 is a partial plan view of the closure of FIG. 7, as viewed frombelow, in its initial condition prior to being opened for a first time;

FIG. 10 is a partial plan view of the closure of FIG. 7, after thepackage has been previously opened and resealed;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another package, prior to an initialopening, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another package, including a packageintegrity feature, shown in its initial unopened condition;

FIG. 13 a shows the package of FIG. 12 in a partially opened condition;

FIG. 13 b shows the package of FIG. 12, after it has been opened andresealed;

FIG. 14 shows another package, in accordance with the present invention,with package integrity feature shown in its initial unopened condition;

FIG. 15 a shows the package of FIG. 14 in a partially opened condition;

FIG. 15 b shows the package of FIG. 14, after the package has beenopened and resealed;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another package according to thepresent invention, in its initial unopened condition;

FIG. 17 shows the package of FIG. 16 in a partially opened condition;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another package prior to an initialopening, according to the present invention;

FIG. 19 a shows the package of FIG. 18 in a first partially openedcondition;

FIG. 19 b shows the package of FIG. 18 in a further partially openedcondition;

FIG. 20 is a partial plan view of the closure of FIG. 18, as viewed frombelow, in its initial condition, prior to being opened for a first time;

FIG. 21 a is a partial plan view of the closure of FIG. 18, just after apackage integrity feature, in the form of a breakable structure, hasbeen broken;

FIG. 21 b is a partial plan view of the closure of FIG. 18, after aninitial opening and resealing;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of another package, in accordance with thepresent invention, including a closure that has been opened;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of another package, in accordance with thepresent invention, with package integrity feature shown in a partiallyopened condition;

FIG. 24 is a partial plan view of the closure of FIG. 23, after aninitial opening and resealing; and

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of another package, prior to an initialopening, in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The package integrity feature of the present invention is, in one form,an improvement of the package shown in the '751 application, which, forconvenience, is described in further detail therein. The present newpackage integrity feature can be used to complement the packageintegrity features of the '751 application, as shown in FIGS. 1-10 and12-24, or by itself, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 25.

Referring to the figures and, in particular, FIGS. 1-4, there is shownpackage 10 with closure 11 which incorporates a package integrityfeature. Package 10 includes a two-ply wrapper comprising a first, innerfilm layer 12 and a second, outer film layer 13 forming a top or uppersurface 14, sides 16, lower surface (not shown), and crimped ends 18,19. The inner film layer 12 and outer film layer 13 are formed from apolymeric film or other flexible material that has been cut, folded orotherwise pressed to define an inner space or receptacle for receivingthe desired product, such as food items, to be provided within thepackage 10. Package 10 can be used to store and distribute food items 58such as cookies, crackers, candy or other items. The outer film layer 13may include graphics or other indicia to identify the contents of thepackage 10.

Advantageously, the inner film layer 12 is coextensively formed andadhesively joined to the outer film layer 13. During the manufacturingof the package 10, the inner film layer 12 is die cut on its side viatear line 20, which includes all of the dashed lines in FIG. 1. Theouter film layer 13 is die cut on its side via a second layer tear line21. The creation of tear lines 20, 21 are disclosed in U.S. PatentApplication Serial No. 2005/0276525, herein incorporated by reference.

Tear line 20 is formed as a continuous tear line to define inner panel22. Tear line 20 also defines strip 52. Tear line 21 defines sealingpanel 26 of the outer film layer 13 and package integrity structure 40.Advantageously, package 10 includes a pair of package integritystructures 40, one on opposite sides of pull tab 30. It is preferable tohave an even number of structures 40 with an equal number on oppositesides of the sealing panel 26. Although the figures show two structures40, any even number is preferable when opening closure 11 for a firsttime, as described below.

The sealing panel 26 extends beyond the periphery of the tear line 20 sothat the sealing panel 26 completely covers and extends beyond theperimeter of the inner panel 22 and strip 52. As a result, the sealingpanel 26 completely covers the inner panel 22 and strip 52.

The package integrity structure 40 of the present invention comprises acurved elongated portion extending from a remaining portion of thesealing panel 26 at 40 a and terminates at a structure end 40 e in theshape of parallel “U's,” defined by die cut 21, which helps ensure thatthe outer film layer 13 will not tear proximate the end 40 e and ensuresend 40 e will remain permanently and integrally part of the outer filmlayer 13 when a user opens package 10, closure 11 for a first time.Structure 40 is integrally formed with the sealing panel 26 and aremainder of the outer film layer 13, due to die cut 21 formingstructure 40 from the outer film layer 13.

The outer film layer 13 is adhesively joined to the inner film layer 12.The inner panel 22 can be separated from the remainder of the inner filmlayer 12 to expose opening 24, whereby access to the contents 58 of thepackage 10 may be gained. As the inner panel 22 is withdrawn, as shownin the '751 application, structures 40 will initially stretch due to theelasticity of the material which comprises the outer film layer 13. Asstructures 40 stretch, their length will increase and their width willnarrow. Eventually, the structures 40 will be stretched beyond theirlimits and snap or break, forming complementary broken ends 40 c anddefine the resulting broken structures portions 40 b, 40 d. Due to thematerial of outer film layer 13, the resulting structures 40 b, 40 dwill have a random or variable shape and form. Further, the structure 40can break at any portion along the length of structure 40; however,typically, structure 40 will break somewhere near the middle between thesealing panel 26 and the remaining portion of the top 14, i.e. betweenend 40 a and end 40 e. Regardless of where along the length of structure40 the break occurs, the resulting portions 40 b, 40 d will be rippledand/or curved upward from the remainder of the package 10 (FIG. 2).

A benefit of having an equal number of structures 40 on either side oftab 30, ensures that an even, approximately balanced force can beapplied to sealing panel 26 when pulling back sealing panel 26 for afirst time to break structures 40. If there were an unequal number ofstructures 40 on either side of tab 30, more force would have to beapplied to the side having more structures 40.

Further, as the inner panel 22 is withdrawn, as shown in the '751application, strip 52 will break, as shown in FIG. 2. Strip 52 isintegrally formed and remains attached to the remaining portion of theinner film layer 12 which comprises the top 14 at strip portions 50 a,respectively. An end portion 52 d remains integrally attached to thefirst panel 22 and end portion 52 b remains integrally attached to theinner film layer 12. Strip 52 has a weakened portion defined by anarrowing of the width of the strip at portion 52 c. Advantageously, thedie cut of tear line 20 forms the strip end 52 e in the shape ofparallel “U's” which help ensure that strip 52 will not tear at end 52 eand will remain integrally joined to the inner panel 22 and allow thestrip 52 to break at the weakened narrow strip portion 52.

The side of the sealing panel 26 which faces the inner film layer 12 iscoated with a resealable adhesive 28 (see FIG. 2), so that the sealingpanel 26 may be resealably secured to the inner film layer 12 at theportion adjacent the inner panel 22. The sealing panel 26 includes thetab 30 or other pullable feature which is not coated with adhesive 28 sothat the sealing panel 26 may be peeled back from the inner film layer12 to open the package 10.

Alternatively, or along with releasable adhesive 28, releasable adhesivecan be coated on the inner film layer 12 along the outside perimeter ofthe inner panel 22. The releasable adhesive can be any pressuresensitive adhesive which allows resealing and includes, but is notlimited to, the adhesives disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,350,688, hereinincorporated by reference.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 1, package 10 is opened by firstgrasping the tab 30 which allows one to pull the sealing panel 26 backfor a first time, resulting in structures 40 and 52 stretching.Structure ends 40 a and strip portion 52 a remain integrally attached tothe remaining portion of the outer film layer 13 and inner film layer12, respectively (FIG. 2).

Package integrity is indicated by closure 11 through several featuresincorporated into the closure 11. Initially, package integrity isindicated visually by observing intact package integrity structures 40,as noted. If the closure 11 has been previously opened, structures 40will no longer be intact and no longer adhere to the top surface of thepackage 10. In fact, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, once closure 11 has beenopened for a first time, structure 40 will be broken, resulting instructure portions 40 b, 40 d which are rippled, curved and raised froma top surface of the package 10.

Further, package integrity is indicated by observing intact integrallyjoined strip 52, which advantageously breaks upon opening the closure 11a sufficient amount prior to allowing one to remove the contentstherein. In addition, package integrity is indicated by an audible soundproduced when structures 40 and strip 52 break upon opening the packagefor a first time. Additionally, since the sealing panel 26 does notgenerally return to its exact position but, instead, is slightlymisaligned relative to its original position, package integrity isindicated by misalignment of the sealing panel 26 with the remainingportion of the outer film layer 13 of top 14 (FIG. 4).

Referring to FIG. 5, like elements to those of the embodiment of FIGS.1-4 are increased by 100. Package 110 comprises a thermal formed tray 60which forms the sides 116 and ends 61, 62. A two-ply film materialcomprising an inner film layer 112 and an outer film layer 113 aresealed to flange 63 of the thermal formed tray 60. As with package 10,package integrity is indicated by the presence of an intact structures140 being integrally formed with the sealing panel 126 and a remainderof outer film layer 113, which forms the top of the package 110.Further, as with package 10, pulling back on tab 130 separates thesealing panel 126 from the outer film layer 113 and separates the innerpanel 122 from the inner film layer 112 and structures 140 and portionsof strip 152. After package 110 has been opened for a first time, thepackage integrity structures 140 will break at 140 c, forming portions140 b, 140 d, and strip 152 will break at narrow strip portions 152 c,providing visual indication of package integrity status which show thatthe package has previously been opened, as shown in FIG. 5.

Package 110 can be used for various food items, such as cheese, slicedmeats and the like. In addition, package 110 can be used for semi-soliditems, such as pudding and yogurt. Although package 110 is depicted ashaving a rectangular shape, the package 110 can have any shape,including cylindrical and irregular.

The inner and outer film layers 112,113 may be formed of the samematerial as layers 12,13, which includes polypropylene, polyethylene,cellophane or any other polymeric material suitable for forming apackage enclosure.

Referring now to FIG. 6, like elements to those of the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-4 are increased by 300. Package 310 is designed to accommodate asingle row of food items, such as cookies 358. When opening package 310for a first time, structures 340 will break, separating the sealingpanel 326 from the remaining portion of the outer film layer 313,thereby allowing one to pull back sealing panel 326 from the top of thepackage 310. Package integrity is indicated by broken structures 340, aswell as by observing the status of strip 352.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-10, like elements to those of the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-4 are increased by 400. Package 410 has a package integritystructure 440 in the shape of a wavy strip, rather than the curved strip40 of package 10. The wavy shape of structure 440 has a concave segment440 b and a convex segment 440 d. Package 410 indicates packageintegrity in a similar manner to that of package 10, in that in aninitial condition, prior to the sealing panel 426 being peeled back fora first time, package integrity is indicated by observing intactstructures 440. Upon withdrawing sealing panel 426 for a first time,structures 440 will initially stretch and increase in length, andeventually break, resulting in broken ends 440 c and segments 440 b and440 c being rippled, curved and/or raised from a top surface of theremaining portion of the top 414 of package 410 (FIGS. 8 and 10).Likewise, as with package 10, withdrawing sealing panel 426 for a firsttime, first stretches and then eventually breaks strip 452.

As noted above, the package integrity feature of the present inventioncan be used by itself instead of as a complement to the packageintegrity feature of the '751 application. FIG. 11 is representative ofany package wherein the package integrity feature of the presentinvention is the sole package integrity feature. Referring now to FIG.11, like elements to those of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 are increasedby 500. Package 510 includes package integrity structure 540, whichjoins sealing panel 526 to the remaining portion of the outer film layer513, as the sole package integrity feature.

Package integrity is indicated in package 510 by an intact structure 540attached to sealing panel 526 and a perimeter of the outer film layer513. A user opens closure 511 by pulling back on tab 530 to withdrawsealing panel 526 from the top of package 510, thereby separating theinner panel 522 from the inner film layer 512 to gain access to thecontents contained within package 510. Pulling back on tab 530 for afirst time results in structures 540 stretching and eventually breaking,as described above with regard to structures 40 of package 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 12-13 b, like elements to those of FIGS. 1-4 havebeen increased by 600. Package 610 is identical to package 10, exceptthat structure 640 has a narrow portion 640 f connected to a broaderband portion 640 d. When sealing panel 626 is pulled back for a firsttime, by grasping tab 630, the structure 640 initially stretches andthen breaks at the narrow portion 640 f, resulting in broken ends 640 c(FIG. 13 a). Likewise, as in package 10, pulling back sealing panel 626for a first time results in strip 652 breaking. When the sealing panel626 is returned flat on the top of the package 610, indication that thepackage 610 has been previously opened is visible by the brokenstructures 640, the slight misalignment of portions 640 b, 640 d withthe remainder of the material forming the outer layer 613, and possiblemisalignment of the sealing panel 626 with the remainder of the outerlayer 613 (FIG. 13 b). In addition, structures 640 b, 640 d may beslightly raised from the top surface 614 of package 610.

Referring now to FIGS. 14-15 b, like elements to those of FIGS. 1-4 areincreased by 700. Package 710 is the same as package 610, except thelocation of the broad band portion 740 b is located closer to thesealing panel 626, rather than the remaining portion of the top 714 ofthe container. As a result, when package 710 is opened for a first time,and structure 740 breaks, forming ends 740 c, the break will be awayfrom the sealing panel 726, relative to that in package 610, resultingin the broader band portion 740 b remaining attached to the sealingpanel 726 (see FIG. 15 a). Conversely, in package 610, the broader bandportion 640 d remains attached to the remaining portion of the outerlayer 613 (see FIG. 13 a). Package integrity is indicated by brokenstructures 740, as well as misalignment of portions 740 b, 740 d withthe remaining portion of the outer layer 713.

Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 17, like elements to those of FIGS. 1-4are increased by 800. Package 810 is identical to package 10, exceptthat structure 840 comprises two narrow portions 840 f and 840 g with awider section 840 b in the middle. When the sealing panel 826 is pulledback for a first time, the structure 840 will break at either portion840 f or 840 g. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the structure 840 isshown broken at portions 840 g.

Referring now to FIGS. 18-21 b, like elements to those of FIGS. 1-4 areincreased by 900. Package 910 has a package integrity feature structure940, which integrally attaches sealing panel 926 to the remainingportion of the outer layer 913 at tab 930. Specifically, the packageintegrity structure 940 of the present invention comprises a narrowportion of strip 940 f, which is attached to pull tab 930 on one end anda wider portion 940 b on its other end, which is permanently attached tothe remainder of the package. The structure 940 is integrally formedwith the pull tab 930 of the sealing panel 926 and a remainder of theouter film layer 913 due to die cut 921 forming structure 940 from theouter film layer 913. The die cut 921 forms the structure end 940 e inthe shape of parallel “U”'s, which help ensure that the outer film layer913 will not tear proximate the end 940 e and that portion 940 b willremain permanently and integrally part of the outer film layer 913 whena user breaks the structure 940 prior to opening the closure 911 for afirst time.

Advantageously, structure 940, along with pull tab 930, are raised froma remainder of the upper surface 914 which is formed by outer film layer913, defining gap 942 between the inner film layer 912, the structure940 and pull tab 930. The raised structure 940 enables one to easilygrasp structure 940 from below with one's fingers and break or separatestructure 940 from the pull tab 930. Alternatively, the structure 940may lie essentially flat, but with no adhesive between it and the topsurface of the package. As a result, one may, by slightly pushing in thepackage at that point, still grasp the structure 940 from below.

Die cuts 25 define a plurality of tab portions 27 in the sealing panel926 which comprise one of the package integrity features of the '751application. The sealing panel 926 extends beyond the periphery of thetear line 920 so that the sealing panel 926 completely covers andextends beyond the perimeters of the inner panel 922 and strips 50, 952,54. As a result, the sealing panel 926 completely covers the inner panel922 and strips 50, 952, 54.

The outer film layer 913 is adhesively joined to the inner film layer912. After the breakable structure 940 has been broken, as discussed indetail below, the inner panel 922 can be separated from the remainder ofthe inner film layer 912 to expose an opening 924, whereby access to thecontents of the package 910 may be gained. As the inner panel 922 iswithdrawn, and as shown in the '751 application, strips 50, 952, 54 willbreak, as shown in FIGS. 19 a and 19 b. Each strip 50, 952, 54 isintegrally joined and remains attached to the remaining portion of theinner film layer 912 which comprises the top 914 at strip portions 50 a,952 a and 54 a, respectively. End portions of strips 50, 952, 54 remainintegrally attached to the first panel 922 at strip portions 50 b, 952 band 54 b, respectively. Each strip 50, 952, 54 has a weakened portiondefined by a narrowing of the width of the strip at portions 50 c, 952 cand 54 c, respectively, and parallel “U” shaped ends 50 d, 952 d and 54d.

The side of the sealing panel 926 which faces the inner film layer 912,including tab portions 27, is coated with a releasable adhesive 928 (seeFIGS. 19 a and 19 b), so that the sealing panel 926 may be resealablysecured to the inner film layer 912 at a portion adjacent the innerpanel 922, and so that the tab portions 27 remain permanently affixed tothe inner film layer 912. The sealing panel 926 includes the tab 930 orother gripping feature which is not coated with adhesive 928, so thatthe sealing panel 926 may be peeled back from the inner film layer 912to open the package 910. In addition, structure 940 is not coated withan adhesive, so that a user can easily grasp the structure 940.

Referring now to FIGS. 18 and 21 a, package 10 is preferably opened byfirst grasping the main portion 940 b of the package integrity structure940, which is preferably raised from the top surface of the package 910,with one's fingers and then pulling the main portion 940 b in adirection parallel to the top surface of the package or slightly up andaway from the package to break the structure 940 at the narrow portionof strip 940 c (see FIG. 4 a). The polymeric or other flexible material,which comprises outer film layer 913 and thus forms structure 940,allows a user to easily tear the structure 940.

Although it is preferable to first break structure 940 as describedabove, alternatively, one can break structure 940 by grasping tab 940and pulling back in a peeling direction 933, which will result in thestructure 940 stretching at portion 940 f until structure 940 eventuallybreaks, forming ends 940 c.

Referring now to FIGS. 19 a, 19 b and 21 b, after structure 940 has beenbroken, the sealing panel 926 can be pulled back, resulting in the innerpanel 922 being separated from the remainder of the inner film layer912. Strip portions 50 a, 952 a, 54 a remain integrally attached to theremaining portion of the inner film layer 912 and strip portions 50 b,952 b, 54 b remain integrally attached to the inner panel 922 (FIG. 20).In addition, tab portions 27 separate from the sealing panel 26 andremain attached to the inner film layer 12, due to adhesive 28, tothereby form holes 32 in the sealing panel 26 (FIGS. 19 and 21).

Initially, upon opening the closure 911, the strip portions 50 a, 952 a,54 a separate from the sealing panel 926, while strip portions 50 b, 952b, 54 b remain attached to the sealing panel 926, as shown in FIG. 19 a.At some point upon peeling the sealing panel 926 back, strip 952 breakswhile strips 50 and 54 remain intact (FIG. 19 a). Pulling the sealingpanel 926 further in the direction of arrow 933 further opens theclosure 911 and eventually strips 50 and 54 break at narrowing stripportions 50 c and 54 c, respectively.

Package integrity is indicated by closure 911 through several featuresincorporated into the closure 911. Initially, package integrity isindicated visually by observing an intact package integrity structure940 which must be broken in order for one to even begin to open theclosure 911 by pulling back sealing panel 926. Further, packageintegrity is indicated by observing intact integrally joined strips 50,952, 54 which advantageously break upon opening the closure 911 asufficient amount prior to allowing one to remove the contents therein.In addition, package integrity is indicated by audible sounds producedwhen the strips break upon opening the package for a first time.Additionally, since the sealing panel 926 does not generally return toits exact original position but, instead, is slightly misalignedrelative to its original position, package integrity is indicated bysuch misalignment of the sealing panel holes 32 with the tab portions25, as the sealing panel has been opened and resealed (FIG. 21 b).

Referring now to FIG. 22, like elements to those of the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-4 are increased by 1000. Package 1010 comprises a thermoformtray 1060 which forms the sides 1016 and ends 1061, 1062. A two-ply filmmaterial comprising an inner film layer 1012 and an outer film layer1013 is sealed to flange 1063 of the thermoform tray 1060. As withpackage 10, package integrity is indicated by the presence of an intactstructure 1040 being integrally formed with the sealing panel 1026 and aremainder of the outer film layer 1013, which forms the top of thepackage 1010. Further, as with package 10, pulling back on table 1030separates the sealing panel 1026 from the outer film layer 1013 andseparates the inner panel 1022 from the inner film layer 1012 andportions of strips 1050, 1052 and 1054. After package 1010 has beenopened for a first time, package integrity structure 1040 will be brokenand strips 1050, 1052, 1054 will break at narrow strip portions 1050 c,1052 c, 1054 c, providing visual indication of package integrity status,which shows that the package has previously been opened, as shown inFIG. 22.

Referring now to FIGS. 23 and 24, like elements to those of theembodiment of FIGS. 1-4 are increased by 1100. Package 1110 has a singlestrip 1152 located at a mid-portion of the opening 1124. Package 1110 isdesigned to accommodate a single row of food items, such as cookies1158. In order to open package 1110 for a first time, breakablestructure 1140 must be broken, separating package integrity structuremain body 1140 b from the tab portion 1130, thereby allowing one to pullback sealing panel 1126 from the top of the package 1110. The breakingof structure 1140 can occur either by first detaching the structure fromthe remaining portion of the sealing panel 1126 or by pulling back ontab 1130, which will stretch and eventually break structure 1140 c.Package integrity is indicated by a broken structure 1140, as well as byobserving the status of the strips 1152 and the alignment of tabportions 1125 with sealing panel holes 1132 (FIG. 24). As previouslynoted above, the package integrity feature of the present invention canbe used by itself, instead of as a complement to the package integrityfeatures of the '751 application. FIG. 25 is representative of anypackage, wherein the package integrity feature of the present inventionis the sole package integrity feature.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 25, like elements to those of theembodiment of FIGS. 1-4 increases by 1200. Package 1210 includes packageintegrity feature 1240, joined to tab 1230, as the sole packageintegrity feature. Package integrity is indicated in package 1210 by anintact structure 1240 attached to tab 1230. Prior to opening package1210 for a first time, one either grasps the narrow portion of strip1240 f and separates it from tab 1230, which subsequently allows a userto now be able to pull back on tab 1230 to withdraw sealing panel 1226from the top of package 1210, thereby separating the inner panel 1222from the inner film layer 1212 to gain access to the contents containedwithin the package 1210. Alternatively, a user may grasp tab 1230 andpull back in a peeling direction 1233, which will result in structure1240 breaking at portion 1240 c, thereby allowing one to continue topull back sealing panel 1226 to gain access to the contents therein.

As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, the presentpackage integrity feature of the present closure offers benefits overprior tamper-evident or package integrity features.

1. A package integrity feature comprising: a closure covering an openinginto a container; and at least one structure associated with a closure,connecting the closure to a remaining portion of the container, wherein,upon opening the closure for a first time, the structure stretches,increasing a length of the structure until the structure eventuallybreaks, leaving one or both residual ends of the broken structurerippled or curved upward from the remaining portion of the container. 2.The package integrity feature of claim 1, wherein the at least onestructure comprises at least two structures, each on opposite sides of alocation on the closure from where one grasps a portion of the closurewhen opening the container.
 3. The package integrity feature of claim 1,wherein the location where one grasps the closure comprises a pull tab.4. The package integrity feature of claim 1, wherein the structure is astrip extending between the closure and an adjacent portion thecontainer.
 5. The package integrity feature of claim 4, wherein thestrip includes a weakened portion.
 6. The package integrity feature ofclaim 5, wherein the weakened portion is in the form of a narrowing of aportion of the strip.
 7. The package integrity feature of claim 1,wherein the structure comprises a curved strip.
 8. The package integrityfeature of claim 7, wherein the curve has the shape of an arc.
 9. Thepackage integrity feature of claim 7, wherein the curve has a concavesegment and a convex segment.
 10. The package integrity feature of claim1, wherein the closure comprises a sealing panel adhesively sealed tothe remaining portion of the container around the opening thereof, andthe structure is integrally formed with the sealing panel on one end andthe remaining portion of the container on another end, wherein thesealing panel is releasable from the remaining portion of the containerby pulling back in a peeling direction, thereby stretching the at leastone structure associated with the sealing panel, and eventually breakingthe structure, to gain access to the contents inside, and the sealingpanel is reclosable against the remaining portion of the container toseal the opening when the sealing panel is moved back against theremaining portion of the container.
 11. The package integrity feature ofclaim 1, wherein the structure is integrally formed from a materialwhich comprises a surface surrounding the closure.
 12. The packageintegrity feature of claim 1, wherein the at least structure comprisesat least two structures, each on an opposing side of the sealing layer.13. A package integrity feature comprising: at least one structureassociated with a sealing panel of a resealable closure of a container,the structure integrally formed with the sealing panel on one end and aremainder of the container on another end, wherein the structure isconstructed to break its connection between the sealing panel and theremainder of the container, when the sealing panel is pulled back fromthe remainder of the container for a first time, thereby leaving thesealing panel free of its attachment to the container through thestructure.
 14. The package integrity feature of claim 13, wherein thesealing panel further comprises a pull tab graspable by a user forwithdrawing the sealing panel from the remainder of the top of thecontainer, wherein grasping the pull tab and withdrawing the sealingpanel from the remainder of the top of the container for a first timeresults in the structure breaking.
 15. The package integrity feature ofclaim 13, wherein the structure breaks prior to one being able to removeany of the contents of the container.
 16. The package integrity featureof claim 13, wherein the structure is a strip extending between thesealing panel and an adjacent portion of the container.
 17. The packageintegrity feature of claim 16, wherein the strip includes a weakenedportion.
 18. The package integrity feature of claim 17, wherein theweakened portion is in the form of a narrowing of a portion of thestrip.
 19. The package integrity feature of claim 13, wherein uponopening the closure for a first time, the structure stretches andeventually breaks, leaving one or both residual ends of the structureextending up from the remainder of the top of the container.
 20. Thepackage integrity feature of claim 13, wherein, upon opening the closurefor a first time, the structure stretches and eventually breaks, leavingone or both residual ends of the structure rippled or curved upward fromthe remainder of the top of the container.
 21. The package integrityfeature of claim 13, wherein the structure comprises a narrow strip endattached to the sealing panel and a relatively wide band end attached tothe remainder of the top of the container strip.
 22. The packageintegrity feature of claim 13, wherein the structure comprises arelatively wide band end attached to the sealing panel and a narrowstrip end attached to the remainder of the top of the container.
 23. Thepackage integrity feature of claim 13, wherein the structure comprisestwo narrow strip ends with a wider section in between the two narrowstrip ends, one of the narrow strip ends attached to the sealing paneland the second one of the narrow strip ends attached to the remainder ofthe top of the container.
 24. The package integrity feature of claim 13,wherein the structure comprises a curved strip.
 25. The packageintegrity feature of claim 24, wherein the curve has the shape of anarc.
 26. The package integrity feature of claim 24, wherein the curvehas a concave segment and a convex segment.
 27. The package integrityfeature of claim 13, wherein the at least structure comprises at leasttwo structures, one on opposing sides of the sealing layer.
 28. Thepackage integrity feature of claim 13, wherein the at least structurecomprises at least an even number of structures, with an equal number ofthe structures on opposing sides of the sealing layer.
 29. An integrityindicating closure for a container, the closure comprising: an at leasttwo-ply material comprising an inner layer adhesively joined to an outerlayer and forming a top of the container, the inner layer having aninner layer panel and the outer layer having a sealing panel, thesealing panel completely covering the inner layer panel; at least onestrip integrally, formed from the material which comprises the outerlayer and connecting the sealing panel to a remaining portion of theouter layer; the inner layer panel and the sealing panel beingpermanently joined to each other to provide an access opening into thecontainer; and a releasable adhesive provided around a perimeter of thesealing panel for adhering the sealing panel to the inner layer, whereinthe sealing panel is releasable from the inner layer by pulling back thesealing panel in a peeling direction and is reclosable against the topto seal the opening when the sealing panel is moved back against thetop.
 30. The integrity indicating closure of claim 29, wherein when thesealing panel is released from the inner layer for a first time, pullingthe sealing panel back in a peeling direction, stretches and eventuallybreaks the at least on strip integrally joining the sealing panel to theremainder of the outer layer.
 31. The integrity indicating closure ofclaim 29, wherein, after the at least on structure breaks, one or bothresidual ends of the structure are rippled or curved upward from the topof the container.
 32. The integrity indicating closure of claim 29,wherein the at least one strip extends from an end of the sealing panelthe remaining portion of the outer layer.
 33. A package integrityindicating closure, said closure comprising: an at least two-plymaterial comprising a first film layer adhesively joined to a secondfilm layer; a first tear line formed into the first film layer defininga first layer panel for providing an access opening through the firstfilm layer when separated from the first film layer along the first tearline; and a second film layer having a second layer tear line defining asealing panel having one end terminating at a breakable structure, thesealing panel completely covering the first layer panel, the second filmlayer including a releasable adhesive layer for releasably adhering thesealing panel to the first film layer, wherein the sealing panel isseparable from the first film layer to expose the access opening andgain access to the contents therein only after the breakable structurehas been broken.
 34. The package integrity indicating closure of claim33, wherein the breakable structure is a strip extending between an endof the sealing panel which forms a tab portion of the closure and anadjacent portion of the second film layer.
 35. The package integrityfeature of claim 34, wherein the strip includes a weakened portion. 36.The package integrity feature of claim 35, wherein the weakened portionis in the form of a narrowing of a portion of the strip.
 37. The packageintegrity feature of claim 33, wherein the structure is raised from thefirst film layer, thereby defining a gap therebetween.
 38. The packageintegrity feature of claim 33, wherein an intact breakable structureindicates that the closure has not been opened for a first time.
 39. Apackage integrity feature comprising: a structure associated with an endportion of a resealable closure of a container, the structure breakablyattached to the end portion on one end and permanently attached to aremainder of the container, wherein the breakable structure isconstructed such that it can be grasped from below with one's fingersand broken to thereby break its connection between the end portion andthe remainder of the container, thereby leaving the end portion free ofits attachment to the container through the structure.
 40. The packageintegrity feature of claim 39, wherein the structure is a stripextending between the end portion of the closure and an adjacent portionof the container.
 41. The package integrity feature of claim 40, whereinthe strip includes a weakened portion.
 42. The package integrity featureof claim 41, wherein the weakened portion is in the form of a narrowingof a portion of the strip.
 43. The package integrity feature of claim39, wherein the structure is raised from a top surface of the container.44. The package integrity feature of claim 40, wherein the structure isintegrally formed from a material which comprises a surface surroundingthe closure.
 45. The package integrity feature of claim 40, furthercomprising a container with top which incorporates the resealableclosure, the resealable closure comprising a sealing panel which coversan access opening into the container and sealingly engages the toparound the access opening so as to originally seal the closure and then,after having been opened a first time, reseals against the top, thestructure associated with the sealing panel and the top, the structurebreakably attached to the sealing panel on one end and permanentlyattached to a remainder of the top at another end.
 46. The package ofclaim 39, wherein the structure is a strip extending between a tabportion of the sealing panel which is not adhesively sealed to the topand the remainder of the top.
 47. The package of claim 39, wherein theend portion comprises a tab portion of the resealable closure.
 48. Apackage integrity indicating closure, the closure comprising: a filmlayer forming a top of a container, the film layer having a flapdefining an access opening to gain access to the contents of thecontainer; a sealing panel completely covering the flap of the filmlayer, the sealing panel comprising a pull tab with a strip extendingtherefrom which is permanently affixed to the top, the pull tab and thestrip defining a gap between the top surface of the container and thepull tab and strip; and releasable adhesive provided on either or boththe sealing panel or the film layer for adhering the sealing panel tothe film layer, wherein the sealing panel is releasable from the filmlayer after the strip joining the sealing panel to a portion of the tophas been broken by pulling the sealing panel back in a peeling directionand is reclosable against the top to seal the access opening when thesealing panel is moved back against the top.
 49. The package integrityindicating closure of claim 48, wherein the strip comprises a weakenedportion.
 50. The package integrity indicating closure of claim 48,wherein the sealing panel and the strip are integrally formed with eachother.
 51. The package integrity indicating closure of claim 48, whereinthe sealing panel and the strip are die cut from a material which formsthe top surface of the container and which is disposed on the filmlayer.
 52. A package integrity indicating closure, said closurecomprising: a structure associated with an end portion of a resealableclosure of a container, both the end portion of the resealable closureand the structure being non-adhered to an adjacent top surface of thecontainer, the structure being breakably attached to the end portion ofthe resealable closure and permanently attached to a remainder of thecontainer, wherein the structure must be separated between the endportion of the resealable closure and the remainder of the container, inorder to open the resealable closure.
 53. The package integrityindicating closure of claim 52, wherein the breakable structure isintegrally formed with a material which forms the top surface of thecontainer.
 54. The package integrity closure of claim 52, wherein thestructure is a strip extending between the end portion of the closureand an adjacent portion of the container.
 55. The package integrityclosure of claim 54, wherein the strip includes a weakened portion. 56.The package integrity closure of claim 55, wherein the weakened portionis in the form of a narrowing of a portion of the strip.
 57. The packageintegrity closure of claim 54, wherein the end portion of the closurecomprises a pull tab.
 58. The package integrity indicating closure ofclaim 52, further comprising food items disposed in the container, saidfood items selected from the group consisting of cookies, crackers,peanuts, cheese, sliced meats and semi-solid foods.
 59. The packageintegrity indicating closure of claim 52, wherein the end portion of theresealable closure and the structure are raised from a top surface ofthe container.